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Friday, September 20, 2013

3rd Grade Math -- Really?

We are 27 school days into the new near. Sub jobs normally show
up slowly the first three weeks. I have already put in 13 subbing days and I
have 7 future assignments booked over the next two weeks.

Since I just dropped a bank vault load of money into car
maintenance and repair, I'm grateful for the fast start but also tired of
working almost every day. I wonder what is going on in the school district that
has so many substitute covered vacancies so soon?

Anyway, today's class of 3rd graders presented me
with the following math problem from last night's homework.

After reading (...and re-reading it a few times), using a
pencil to write down stuff as I carefully and slowly read each sentence, I
finally figured out the answer to #15....I think.

I invite you to give it a go and post your answer in the
comments section. Please include the number of times you had to re-read it and
the total time it took you to get it.

(I'll hold off posting all responses until a week from today
to foil the cheaters who might be tempted to peek.)

(click to enlarge)

9/25/2013 update:

Judging by the comments, we seem to have a pretty bright readership group here.

898 is the correct answer, but I would not expect the average 3rd grader to reason it out without help.

The number is between 100-999. You have 3 positions to fill. The only two digits that aren't next to each other are in position 1 & 3. The tens digit can not be greater, which I assume means it's the largest number which is 9. So 9 goes in the 2nd position which is the tens digit. And it says the tens digit is one more than the hundreds digit, which must be 8. So 8 goes into the 1st & 3rd position.

I LOVE those math problems! When I teach math, I work hard to convince my students that math is just a game or puzzle and their attitude will determine how they approach the problems. This supports my thoughts exactly and really gets kids thinking about numbers.